American restaurant chain SmashBurger is arriving in the UK, opening its first diner in Milton Keynes later this week. The gourmet burger specialists are hugely popular stateside and are expected to experience similar success here.

The burger market in the UK said to be worth around £2.8bn, and SmashBurger are hoping to own a significant share of it. As well as opening their first eatery in Milton Keynes, locations in Newcastle, Bristol and Bath have also been confirmed.

‘Smash burgers’ are made by smashing a ball of fresh beef on a buttered grill, a process which the company says creates a seal that locks in all the juices. The menu will also include chicken dishes, fresh salads and a variety of milkshakes.

Company director Tim Lowther said: “We’re excited about arriving here in the UK. The British love their burgers; the size of the market proves that. We don’t think the market is saturated, and what differentiates us is that nobody makes burgers to the same level of detail we do”.

He added that SmashBurger plan to open five or six restaurants in 2016 alone, with a view to creating 35 over the next few years.